amnesty
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amnesty
A pardon or reduction of punishment ordered by the state for a specific group of people who have committed a certain type of offense. This often happens for political reasons.
Die neue Regierung erließ eine Amnestie für alle politischen Gefangenen.
The new government granted amnesty to all political prisoners.
'Amnestie' (amnesty) is a technical term from the legal and political sphere. You find it almost exclusively in news reports, laws, or historical texts.
Das Parlament debattiert über eine mögliche Amnestie.
Parliament is debating a possible amnesty.
Certain verbs are used in connection with 'Amnestie' (amnesty). A government can 'eine Amnestie erlassen' (issue an amnesty) or 'eine Amnestie gewähren' (grant an amnesty). A person can 'unter eine Amnestie fallen' (fall under an amnesty).
Der Präsident hat eine Amnestie für Steuerhinterzieher erlassen.
The president issued an amnesty for tax evaders.
To name the group to whom the pardon applies, the preposition 'für' (for) is used with the accusative.
Es gab eine Amnestie für alle Deserteure des vergangenen Krieges.
There was an amnesty for all deserters of the previous war.
pardon
Both die Amnestie and die Begnadigung can remit a sentence. An amnesty applies to a defined group of people or offenses, while a pardon concerns one individual who has been convicted. The deciding factor is therefore whether the remission applies to a group or to an individual case.
Durch die Amnestie wurden alle wegen dieses Vergehens Verurteilten freigelassen.
The amnesty released everyone convicted of this offense.
Durch die Begnadigung wurde der wegen dieses Vergehens verurteilte Mann freigelassen.
The pardon released the man who had been convicted of this offense.
